Marietta Greek Festival returning in drive-through format

Marietta Greek Festival
Dancers will be part of the “Opa-To-Go” format of the 2021 Marietta Greek Festival. (ECN file)

Organizers of the Marietta Greek Festival will be holding a 2021 event after cancelling last year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

But the return of the festival to Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church (3431 Trickum Road) will be done in a drive-through fashion.

It’s what’s being called “Opa to Go,” as food, music, dancing and atmosphere will be lined up around the church grounds for visitors who make their way in their vehicles.

What’s missing from the revamped format are the church sanctuary tours.

The dates are May 14-16, with more details provided and forthcoming at MariettaGreekFestival.com.

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East Cobb festival update: New dates, format for Noshfest

Alex Guthrie, Noshfest
Alex Guthrie performing at the 2018 Noshfest (ECN file).

The dead of winter is the time when spring, summer and fall festival news is announced. Following a recent post about the 2020 date in May for the Taste of East Cobb comes word about some changes with the Noshfest at Temple Kol Emeth.

Noshfest organizers announced over the weekend that the 10th anniversary of the Jewish food and cultural festival is taking place in late August, instead of over the Labor Day weekend.

It’s also being streamlined into a one-day festival, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22. The previous day, Saturday, Aug. 22, will have a “Nosh at Night” musical concert featuring East Cobb artist Alex Guthrie, who’s opening for the Zack Brown Band, and others, along with refreshments.

More details are to follow, including ticketing for Nosh at Night.

The dates for the 2020 Marietta Greek Festival also have been announced, and for the 30th anniversary of the event, it’s keeping to its usual spring time slot, May 15-17 at the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church on Trickum Road.

The Greek Festival hours are Friday, May 15 from 3-11 p.m. (with free admission from 3-5 p.m.); Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m; and Sunday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

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PHOTOS: 29th Marietta Greek Festival continues through Sunday

Marietta Greek Festival

The 29th Marietta Greek Festival continues through Sunday at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church (3431 Trickum Road), and we got there not long after it opened on Friday to take in what’s become one of the most popular community festivals in East Cobb.

Grade-school children danced to folk tunes from the Greek islands and mainland, part of the featured entertainment that’s a custom at the festival.

Marietta Greek Festival

Marietta Greek Festival
The festival also includes tours of the church, which are from 10-5:30 & 7:30-9 Saturday & 12-5 Sunday. This year’s theme is “Holy Icons: Windows Into Heaven.” 
Marietta Greek Festival
The history of the Orthodox church, as well as many Greek cultural achievements, are spelled out for visitors in the fellowship hall.
Marietta Greek Festival
A full menu of Greek food items for purchase includes the classic Gyro. Cooking demonstrations will be held at 1, 3, 5 & 7 Saturday and 12:30, 2:30 & 3:30 Sunday.
Marietta Greek Festival
The outdoor marketplace includes more food, children’s activities and crafts.

Marietta Greek Festival

Marietta Greek Festival

Marietta Greek Festival

Marietta Greek Festival

The Marietta Greek Festival continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

Admission is $5, and free shuttle bus service is available at the Church of Latter-Day Saints (3340 Trickum Road, Saturday only), Simpson Middle School (3340 Trickum Road) and Mountain View Elementary School (3151 Sandy Plains Road).

The festival proceeds will benefit the Northwest Metro Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and Philoptochos (Friends of the Poor), a charity of the Greek Orthodox Ladies of the Atlanta Archdiocese.

 

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EAST COBB WEEKEND EVENTS: Marietta Greek Festival; Cobb Wind Symphony Young Person’s Concert; more

Marietta Greek Festival

We may be dancing around some raindrops all weekend, but the dancing—as well as eating and shopping and so much more—will go on rain or shine at the Marietta Greek Festival. It leads off a festive slate of East Cobb Weekend Events, as another school year comes to a close and summer activities will be coming soon.

The 28th annual Marietta Greek Festival is a three-day extravaganza of food, shopping, fun and a celebration of Greek culture, kicking off at 3 on Friday and lasting until sundown on Sunday at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Catholic Church (3431 Trickum Road).

A $5 admission ticket is charged for adults, while kids 12 and under get in for free. If you can’t park onsite, a free shuttle will be provided at the following locations, and parking is also free:

  • Simpson Middle School – 3340 Trickum Road;
  • Church of Latter-Day Saints – 3195 Trickum Road;
  • Lassiter High School – 2601 Shallowford Road.

The hours are from 3-11 Friday, 10-11 on Saturday and 11-6 on Sunday.

There’s a main food tent, a selection of street food options, desserts and beverages, all representing the rich culinary range of Greece.

The entertainment schedule covers the span of the festival, and there are vendors, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities and church tours.

Proceeds from the festival benefit Northwest Atlanta Metro Habitat, The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc., a Greek Orthodox women’s ministry that works with other Christian philanthrophies.

Friday and Saturday are the last curtain calls for “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” a comedy musical revue that starts at 8 both nights at The Art Place-Mountain View (3330 Sandy Plains Road). It’s the last presentation for CenterStage North until August, when “On Golden Pond” will be featured;

If cooking at home, and making throw-back dishes is more to your taste, a new spring-and-summer series gets underway Saturday at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road).

It’s called Retro Recipes, and from 12-1 Saturday, you’re invited to bring an old family appetizer recipe as participants make and share dishes. The series runs through August;

Stick around at Sewell Mill for its monthly Local Lens feature from 4-5. This month’s film professional is Ashley Nichole Smith Carlson, an Atlanta filmmaker who will share her thoughts about her favorite films, and cinematic storytelling.

As the weekend winds down, and the last couple days of school approach, local musicians will be taking the stage Sunday at the Lassiter Concert Hall (2601 Shallowford Road). It’s the Cobb Wind Symphony Young Person’s Concert, and pre-concert kids’ activities start at 2, with face-painting, an instrument petting zoo and other activities. The music starts at 3. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

Did we miss anything? Do you have a calendar listing to share with the community? Send is to us, and we’ll post it! E-mail your information to: calendar@eastcobbnews.com. Check out our full Events Calendar, for the weekend and beyond, for more things to do.

Whatever you’re doing this weekend, enjoy!

 

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